The saints everlasting rest, or, A treatise of the blessed state of the saints in their enjoyment of God in glory wherein is shewed its excellency and certainty, the misery of those that lose it, the way to attain it, and assurance of it, and how to live in the continual delightful forecasts of it and now published by Richard Baxter ...

SECT. I.

* 1.1I Come now to my second Argument, to prove Scripture to be the word of God. And it is this.

If the Scriptures be neither the invention of Devils,* 1.2 nor of men, then it can be from none but God: But that it is neither of Divels, nor meerly of men, I shall now prove (for I suppose none will question the major proposition) First, Not from Divels; for first they cannot work Miracles to confirm them. Secondly, It would not stand with Gods Soveraignity over them, or with his good∣ness, Wisdome and Faithfulness in governing the world, to suffer Satan to make Laws, and confirm them with wonders, and obtrude them upon the world in the name of God, and all this without his disclaiming them, or giving the world any notice of the forgery. Thirdly, Would Satan speak so much for God? So seek his Glory as the Scripture doth? would he so vilifie and reproach himself? and make known himself to be the hatefullest, and most miserable of all creatures? would he so fully discover his own

wiles? his Temptations? his methods of deceiving? and give men such powerfull warning to beware of his snares? and such excellent means to conquer himself? would the Devil lay such a design for mens salvation? would he shew them their danger? and direct them to escape it? would he so mightily labor to pro∣mote all Truth and goodness, and the happiness of mankinde as the Scripture doth? Let any man tell me, what book or project in the world, did ever so mightily overthrow the Kingdome of Satan, as this book, and this Gospell-designe? And would Satan be such an enemy to his own Kingdome? Fourthly, If Satan were the author, he would never be so unweariedly, and subtilly industrious, to draw the world to unbelief, and to break the Laws which this book conteineth, as his constant temptations do sensibly tell many a poor soul, that he is. Would he be so earnest to have his own words rejected? or his own Laws broken? I think this is all clear to any man of Reason.

Notes

• * 1.1

  § 1.
• * 1.2

  I take it for granted, that good Angels could not be guilty of forging the Scripture.